Gigi Hadid assaulted by a fan during Milan Fashion Week

The model was attacked by a male stranger while leaving the Max Mara fashion show.
- byEmily Kirkpatrick

Sep
2016

At this point in her career, Gigi Hadid is a runway pro.

It seems there’s no catwalk, campaign, or magazine cover in the world where the supermodel hasn’t made her presence known. Killing it at your high-profile job day in and day out, however, is one thing, but the fame and fans that naturally accompany it is something entirely different. And on Thursday, September 22, while exiting the Max Mara show with her sister Bella, Gigi got a taste of the dark side of adoration as it appears a male stranger managed to come up behind her and grab her.

While so far all we have to officially go on is the images of what appear to be an extremely angry and frightened Gigi, it seems pretty indisputable what transpired outside the fashion show. In a series of paparazzi photos, the model and her stylish sister exit the building amongst a swarm of people, slowly making their way towards their awaiting car.

Getty Images

But as Gigi broke through the throng, it seems a young man somehow managed to evade her security guards and sneak up behind her, grabbing her around the waist, lifting her into the air, and groping her from behind.

Getty Images

Getty Images

But the model proved she’s no damsel in distress, as she got to unleash a few of the powerhouse boxing moves she’s mastered, freeing herself from her attacker’s grasp with a kick and an elbow to the head. In the shots, Hadid looks unscathed, though visibly shaken, appearing to share some choice words with her security team for allowing this whole series of events to transpire.

The model also talked briefly about the experience on Twitter, defending her actions and writing: